THE FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL, A KEY INSTITUTION IN THE ONGOING CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

2025/03/15 by Nisrine Abiad · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Islamic Studies and History #Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts #Socioeconomic Development in MENA

paper · doi:10.1080/03068374.2025.2484332

openalex publication_date 2025/03/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/13

Abstract

This article examines how the Federal National Council (FNC), one of the five central federal institutions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has evolved to become a key institution in the country’s constitutional life. It focuses on the institution-building process of the FNC, which has been taking place at two levels over the half-century since independence. Firstly, at an organic level, the actual composition of the FNC has developed, and its democratic openness has been steadily expanded through limited but growing popular participation in elections and the implementation of gender-political parity. Secondly, at a material level, the prerogatives of the FNC have been progressively reinforced. Although it has limited legislative power, the FNC exercises a significant role mainly through the scrutiny it performs on draft laws and the political control it brings into the public domain.

Discussions

• Nisrine Abiad of the Dubai Campus of Saint Joseph University of Beirut argues that the UAE’s federal parliament is slowly acquiring a more democratic and representative role. Read here -https://doi.or [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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